Reclining chair

ABSTRACT

A chair includes first and second support areas disposed in such an angular relationship with respect to the floor and to each other than an individual incapable of supporting himself may be supported in a reclining position.

States Patent [191 Jackson 51 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] RECLINING CHAIR [76]Inventor: Clarence E. Jackson, PO. Box

1109, Texas City, Tex. 77590 [22] Filed: July 7, 1971 [21} Appl. No.:160,404

[52] US. Cl. ..297/446, 297/458, 297/457, 297/D1G. 2 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c7/00, A47c 7/14 [58] Field of Search ..297/DIG. 2, 446, 452, 457,297/328; 5/90, 91, 92

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,370,885 2/1968 Gale..297/452 X 2,957,184 10/1960 Smith ..4/185 2,973,889 3/1961 Phillips..297/DIG. 2 896,179 8/1908 Vance et al. ..297/457 PrimaryExaminerCasmir A. Nunberg Attorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews [57]ABSTRACT A chair includes first and second support areas disposed insuch an angular relationship with respect to the floor and to each otherthan an individual incapable of supporting himself may be supported in areclining position.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEU ZO 9 3 (/arence f. a/oron INVENTORpnauv! WiIAmu & MaHLewA HT'I'ORNE YS 1 RECLINING cnam BACKGROUND OF THElNVENTlON perattendant to manually support at least the head of theinfirm person, leaving only one hand free to feed, and at the same timeotherwise control, the patient. Providing support solely for the head isalso not satisfactory since the rest of the body remains prostrate,which makes it difficult for the person to swallow his food.

Of course, there are many other occasions when it is desirable tosupport an infirm person, such as a mentally retarded child, in at leasta recumbent or reclining position so that the person can be attended.For ince, it is necessary to support retarded children and children whoare victims of muscular or neurotic diseases, such as distrophy, in atleast a reclining position for substantial periods of time in order toinstruct the children. From the viewpoint of the infirm child, it issimply more comfortable to be supported at osition other than theprostrate position that he is otherwise relegated to for the better partof his life.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON lt is an object of this invention to provide anew and improved chair which will support a person unable to supporthimself in a reclining position so that the person may be fed orotherwise attended.

BRIEF DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWlNG P16. 1 is a perspective view of thereclining chair acthe concept of the present invention.

FlG. 2'is view of another embodiment wherein the reclining chair hascastors for ease of movement.

in the drawing the letter A generally designates a chair on a floor Bfor providing support for a person who is unable to support himself. Thechair A is of unitary construction and includes a having a substantiallyflat portion 10a which is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to ahorizontal plane such as the floor B on which the first support area 10further includes a curved surface area 10b which is connected to rearwall 11 The chair 12 which is disposed at an oblique angle with respectto the floor B but is approximately perpendicular to the flat portion10a of the support area 10. A connecting support area 13 connects thefirst support area portion 10a and the second surface 12. The connectingsurface area 13 may be bowed so that a person placed in the chair willbe more comfortable, or it may provide a flat also disposed in a planeoblique to the horizontal or floor on which the chair is sitting. Thethird support 4 is connected to the second support area and cooperateswith the first, second and third support areas to receive and maintain aperson in a recumbent or reclining position. stantially flat portionfirst support area is disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular tothe first support area 10 45 A further includes a second support areaThe sub- 6 second support area 12 and is also in a plane substantiallyparallel the persons body the person to much greater e vides the supporbody of the person sitting in the chair so of the lower 10 that theperson will be supported even unable to provide any muscular sup thirdsurface are tion for the lower po to the third support area 14. ort area10 supports the upper body of therein so that a substantial portion 0ase. The

is in a reclining position which allows be fed or otherwise attended towith second support area 12 prot for the buttocks and upper leg regionsthough he is ort a comfortable resting posirtion of the legs below theknee joint if, of course the person is sufficiently tall that his legsextend onto further includes the vertically extending the third Thechair A shoulders and 16 that support areas 12, 13

control himself fro support area 14 formed at the sides of the and 14 toprovide sides or exa person who cannot the sides of the chair.

The vertically extending shoulders 15 and 16 are connected to surfaces d.18, respectively, which are disposed in planes substantially parallelto the first,

second and thir the person. Finally,

attached to the porting wall 11 surfaces tire chair as a unit.

that, if it is more than one to connect other it is understoo out offiber glass or unitary construction disclosed in the preferre type 0 dthat the chair A can plastic and therefore may be of the able toconstruct the chair A r piece of material, prop hinges and brackets mayt areas and rear w which actually support side walls 19 and 20 are 18and to the rear suporder to provide support for the enbe constructed dembodito be further understood from er conbe used alls to each indealing with children who are suffering from hanattended to.

time may pass the undesir mental retardation,

it is desirable to inclined position for long can observe theirenvironment and be taught as well as fed and otherwise Unfortunatelythere is tremendous nursing help in hospitals and it impossible for thechildren to be closely that chair wetting may be be positioned below thewaste. in

casters such as patients sitting the size, shape and materials as thisreasonably clean and fr attendant can ta ln FlG. 2 the chair variouschanges in manner this shortage of nurses, some is discovered. ln orderto at least make the children more comfortable by allowing the waste tobe draine as 21 and 22 are 13 at the lowest point with respect to theground so thz able waste can d, a plurality of holes sucl cut into theconnecting support are d. A pan 22 ca holes in to collect tl thechildren can be ke ee of foul odors until a nurse ke care of theirneeds..

A is shown as being mounted 23 and 24 which allow the chair and thereinto be moved about with ease.

the

as in the details of the illustrated construction ma departing madewithout from the spirit of the in 3 4 n For instance the chair disclosedis designed to be c a third support area cooperating with said second ycomfortable and may be used as a comfort chair support area to receivethe Since the chair A IS fiberglass it may be used as a patio b low theknee 101m and an and will remain intact m spite of exposure to d afourth support area mt moisture and other environmental elements l 5 andsecond support areas I claim e a hole disposed m sa: 1 A chair ofunitary construction for providing sup- Provide ainag and port for aperson unable to support himself comprxs f 5 Oulde!" Pomons of t e sidesof said fir a a first support area disposed at an oblique angle pp'areas in Order I with respect to the horizontal for receiving andComfortably Positioned supporting the upper body of the pp ch31! C asecond support area disposed at an oblique angle The Structure set forthwith respect to the horizontal and cooperating vcasters mountefl on saidwith said first support area in order to receive the mordellm Prowdesupport ower body of t e person and to provide support said P and anyPerson P for the person in a reclining position whereby the e y-"aboutindividual can be fed or otherwise attended;

1. A chair of unitary construction for providing support for a personunable to support himself, comprising: a. a first support area disposedat an oblique angle with respect to the horizontal for receiving andsupporting the upper body of the body: b. a second support area disposedat an obliqUe angle with respect to the horizontal and cooperating withsaid first support area in order to receive the lower body of the personand to provide support for the person in a reclining position wherebythe individual can be fed or otherwise attended; c. a third support areacooperating with said second support area to receive the portion of thelegs below the knee joint and provide support therefor; d. a fourthsupport area interposed between said first and second support areas; ande. a hole disposed in said fourth support area in order to providedrainage; and, f. shoulder portions integrally connected with each ofthe sides of said first, second, third and fourth support areas in orderto maintain an individual comfortably positioned within said chairwherein a support chair of unitary construction is provided.
 1. A chairof unitary construction for providing support for a person unable tosupport himself, comprising: a. a first support area disposed at anoblique angle with respect to the horizontal for receiving andsupporting the upper body of the body: b. a second support area disposedat an obliqUe angle with respect to the horizontal and cooperating withsaid first support area in order to receive the lower body of the personand to provide support for the person in a reclining position wherebythe individual can be fed or otherwise attended; c. a third support areacooperating with said second support area to receive the portion of thelegs below the knee joint and provide support therefor; d. a fourthsupport area interposed between said first and second support areas; ande. a hole disposed in said fourth support area in order to providedrainage; and, f. shoulder portions integrally connected with each ofthe sides of said first, second, third and fourth support areas in orderto maintain an individual comfortably positioned within said chairwherein a support chair of unitary construction is provided.